Flexural behavior of functionally graded slender beams with complex cross-section

Deflection and stress analyses of functionally graded beams with complex cross-section and general material variation, under transverse loading, were carried out. The elastic-fundamental solution is used to derive equations satisfied by the normal stresses in arbitrary cross-sections of the beam, assuming that the plane sections remain plane and normal to the beam axis. The technique was verified by existing analytical and finite element models. Numerical experiments were then performed where the material properties vary through thickness or width of the beams according to power-law and exponential gradations. It was found that the quality of material gradation affects the deflection, stresses and neutral axis position significantly. It is concluded that the technique is useful for the elastic behavior analysis of FGBs with complex cross-sections and various material gradation